Ricketts wins in Zagreb again

OLYMPIC GAMES silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts was the only Jamaican winner on the final day of competition at the Zagreb Meeting Boris Hanžekovic Memorial in Zagreb, Croatia – a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet – taking the women’s triple jump with a distance of 14.54 metres.

Coming off her Diamond League success two weeks earlier in Doha, it took the Jamaican some time to settle, as she only went over the line on her sixth and final attempt. Early leader Neja Filipic of Slovakia, who moved ahead on her second attempt, finished second with a personal best of 14.42, while Maja Åskag of Sweden was third with 14.00. Jamaica’s Ackelia Smith ended fourth with a season’s best 13.84.

Ricketts, who was scoring her sixth win in the event in Zagreb to remain unbeaten there, was pleased with her result despite the slow start.

“I was hoping to get the right jump much earlier in the competition but, oh my gosh, it took a while to get going. I don’t know – maybe because it was a bit cool today (yesterday). I’m coming from Doha, so it took me a while to defrost. I’m just so happy to get the win,” she shared.

She was also thrilled about her sixth success at the meet.

“Six times in Zagreb and six times the winner. So it is very special, and I’m just always happy to be here. It looks like I beat Tom Walsh in the number of victories.”

Ricketts is now looking forward to her next competition.

“14.54 – I can’t complain about it. Now I have a little while before the Rome Diamond League, my next stop. We might be in Austria, but it could also be London. We need to confirm with the training group,” she said.

Following Lamara Distin’s second-place finish a day earlier in the women’s high jump, there was another runner-up spot for Jamaica yesterday, as Omar McLeod finished second in the men’s 110m hurdles, clocking 13.40 seconds. The United States’ Dylan Beard won the event in 13.29, with Enzo Diessl of Austria third in 13.79.

There were fourth-place finishes for two other Jamaicans at the meet: Wayne Pinnock in the men’s long jump with a distance of 7.71, and Adele Tracey, who clocked 4:09.53 in the women’s 1500m.

There was also success for Olympic Games 100m champion Julien Alfred of St Lucia, who captured the women’s 200m in 22.15.